Persian Journal of Acarology

Abstract Sustainable restoration of eutrophic lakes remains a vital challenge, with probiotic bioremediation providing a non-invasive alternative to conventional chemical approaches. This study assesses the effectiveness of Effective Microorganisms (EM) technology in restoring Lake Jeziorko (Poland), using water mites (Hydrachnidia) as sensitive bioindicators of habitat change. During the monitoring period lasting a total of 35 months (samples were taken each time in July for three years) across littoral and profundal zones, collecting 9,739 water mite individuals from 38 species. Bathymetric analysis confirmed a decrease in bottom sediment thickness, which probably triggered a clear response in benthic fauna. Although the initial year showed a lake-wide increase in species richness, long-term trends reveal a split: littoral communities declined due to external nutrient inputs and cyanobacterial blooms, while profundal communities (dominated by typical lake taxa such as Neumania limosa and Piona stjordalensis) remained stable and showed signs of improved sediment oxygenation. These findings indicate that while probiotic bioremediation effectively conditions deep-water habitats and reduces sediment volume, it is not sufficient alone to counter external eutrophication pressures. Additionally, these studies indicate that profundal aquatic mite communities show a clear improvement in profundal conditions, while littoral water mites indicate that the ecological situation did not improve permanently.

Abstract We redescribed and illustrated Eutrombidium tehranicum Karimi Iravanlou, Kamali & Talebi, 2002 based on the examination of type material, and new materials collected from three provinces (Kurdestan, Kermanshah, and West Azarbaijan) on new hosts of grasshoppers (Tettigoniidae and Acrididae). Eutrombidium elborzensis Karimi Iravanlou, Kamali & Talebi, 2002 and E. fathipouri Karimi Iravanlou, Kamali & Talebi, 2002 are considered junior synonyms of E. tehranicum. This study provides an updated and corrected description, illustrations, and host records for E. tehranicum, along with a discussion of its taxonomic status and distribution.

Abstract A tribute to an outstanding pioneer acarologist of Iran, Prof. Dr. Hossein Sepasgosarian.

Abstract Biological control is widely regarded as a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to pest management. However, the use of acaricides may occasionally be required as a supplementary measure. This study investigated the effect of two acaricides, chlorfenapyr and acequinocyl on the olfactory response of the predatory mites, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae). In olfactory assays, mites were exposed to acaricide-treated or control discs and then introduced into a Y-tube olfactometer to evaluate their response to odor sources (healthy vs. spider mite-infested leaves). G-test was employed for data analysis. The results showed that predatory mites treated with sublethal concentrations of acaricides moved randomly between Y-tube arms, while control mites and those in the acequinocyl field concentration treatment showed a significant preference for the arm containing spider mite odor, indicating that no disruption in odor tracking occurred. With increasing acaricide concentration, the number of mites that hesitated to choose between the two arms of the Y-tube increased. Furthermore, the average time taken for mites to select, and reach the odor source increased in treatments with higher concentrations, indicating that higher pesticide levels impair the mites' ability to detect and respond to prey odors. These findings highlight the disruptive effects of pesticides on predatory mites' olfactory pathways, which could compromise their role in biological control. To preserve their effectiveness, careful selection and use of pesticides are essential. Moreover, incorporating olfactory response studies into pesticide selectivity evaluations can further support integrated pest management programs.

Abstract Atractothrombium joharchii sp. nov. ectoparasitic on an unknown Tachinidae (Insecta: Diptera) is described from Alborz province, Iran. A re-definition of the genus Atractothrombium is presented. A key to the larval genera of Microtrombidiinae of the world with two median scuta and anterior scutum with longitudinal striations is given. Leg setal formula of two species of Fissitrombium described by Southcott (1994) are given.

Abstract In this paper, we give new data on larval specimens of E. (E.) phalangoides deposited in the South Australian Museum (SAM), and transfer Erythraeus (Erythraeus) walii Kamran, Afzal, Raza, Bashir & Ahmad, 2011 to the subgenus Erythraeus (Zaracarus).

Abstract We report the first record of Diplodontus semiperforatus (Walter, 1925) for Iran. Thus far, this halobiontic species was only known from the Western Mediterranean. We discuss the environmental characteristics of the sampling sites and present the first barcodes of D. semiperforatus and its sister species D. scapularis Dugès, 1834.

Abstract Torrenticola meridionalis Di Sabatino & Cicolani, 1990 was originally described from Italy and later has been noted in different parts of the Balkans. Next researches, based on molecular data, have shown that it is a species-complex. This work provides new data on Torrenticola cf. meridionalis based on DNA barcodes of specimens from Poland and confirms previous assumptions about the Torrenticola meridionalis-complex.

Abstract The present study reports the results of surveys carried out over a period of two years (2018 and 2020) in four provinces of Iran: Guilan, Razavi Khorasan, Mazandaran, and Sistan and Baluchestan. Twenty-three species from eight genera of Phytoseiidae have been collected, of which two species were newly recorded for Iran, namely: Euseius gallicus and Proprioseiopsis lineatus. Three species, namely Neoseiulus agrestis, Amblyseius obtusus, Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) haiastanius are new records for the Guilan Province. Neoseiulus californicus and Amblyseius swirskii are new records for the Mazandaran Province while Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) haiastanius is a new record for the Razavi Khorasan Province. All species collected in Sistan and Baluchestan are new records for this province. The worldwide distribution and plant hosts of all collected phytoseiids during this study are provided.

Abstract The nature of spider mite counterattack and defensive behavior and their effects on predatory mites have only been investigated in social species. Here, we have examined the defensive success of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) male individuals in the presence of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) juveniles. We recorded the number of T. urticae eggs eaten (killed) within three days along with monitoring the predator (dead/alive) status. The defensive behavior of T. urticae male was considered as success when the predator had consumed less than 50% of the prey eggs and was killed at the end of the experimental period. Our main hypothesis was that introducing an additional male would increase the defensive success rate. Results showed that the success rate was significantly higher in the patches with two T. urticae male individuals compared to one. No significant difference were observed among the egg-eating (killing) rate within the three consecutive days of experiment in patches with one male, while in the treatments with an additional male, the egg killing rate of the third day was significantly higher than that on the first day. We also hypothesized that male T. urticae with significant higher rate of defensive success should be morphologically different in comparison with the defeated ones. We found no significant differences in the length of chelicera, first leg and body (length and width) between the successful versus defeated males. We concluded that T. urticae can attack the predator, but the weapon by which the success happens remained unclear.

Abstract Nearly 60,000 species of Acari have been described in the world, many more await discovery and description. Persian Journal of Acarology has been one of the important journals for publishing articles on all aspects of acarology during the last 10 years (2012–2021). It published 315 papers including 248 articles, 63 correspondence articles, one monograph, and three book reviews by 188 authors during this decade, with descriptions of 66 new species. Four new genera were described in PJA in 2015 and 2016.

Abstract Leaf domatia as a habitat-produced structure is considered to moderate the interaction intensity among guild parties. We studied whether domatia of sweet pepper (Capsicum annum) leaves could reduce the adverse effects of predation of a phytoseiid on behalf of an intraguild predatory mite on a phytoseiid intraguild prey, and a tetranychid extraguild prey. In the domatia-provided treatments where Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) females were considered as predator, significantly fewer Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot juveniles were killed, and eaten in comparison with the treatments without domatia. The predation rate of A. swirskii was affected by the domatia i.e. the number of eaten P. persimilis was significantly lower on patches with four domatia rather than those with no domatium, however, no significant difference was observed between those in patches with two, and four domatia. Both natural, and artificial domatia could reduce the predation rate on P. persimilis juveniles. When P. persimilis females were considered as predators, the number of A. swirskii killed juveniles was affected neither by presence nor by the number of leaf domatia. The number of eaten Tetranychus urticae Koch eggs/larvae in patches with either of the intraguild predator species was not affected by the presence, the number, and the type of domatia. We suggest that leaf domatia could affect the survival of phytoseiid predatory mites as the guild participants even when the highly aggressive intraguild predator, A. swirskii, enters such structures.

Abstract Here with our sorrowful hearts, we announce the devastating news for death of our friend and colleague, Dr. Hamidreza Hajiqanbar, an exceptional acarologist.

Abstract Leptus (Leptus) pouryayevalii sp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae), collected by shaking the leaves of weeds on white tray (off host) from Koushk Bala village, Chalous road, Alborz Province, Iran, is described and illustrated based on larva. This species belongs to the sudanensis species group and hospeticus species subgroup which can be identified based on the following characters: TFe I without solenidion, Ge I with two solenidia.

Abstract Biodiversity is an important factor in soil quality and functionality. Physical and chemical changes during agricultural operations influence on soil biodiversity. Tillage and irrigation significantly change the life of soil microorganisms. The current study was conducted in Khodabandeh County during the wheat growing season. The effect of the first treatment (two tillage systems: conventional and no-tillage systems) and the second treatment (months) in two years on the biodiversity of oribatid mites, were investigated in irrigated and rain-fed wheat farms. Twelve samples were collected randomly per each sampling time during 21 April, 5 June and 30 July 2014 and 10 May, 12 June and 31 July 2015 coinciding with tillering stage, stem elongation and harvesting. Twelve species from eight families and 12 genera were identified. Among them, Opiella nova with 24.4% relative abundance was the abundant species in 2014 and Rhinopia bipectinata with 27.5% was the abundant species in 2015. The highest value of the Shannon-Wiener diversity index was observed in the irrigated no-tillage (I-NT) system. The statistical results of the ANOVA test showed a significant difference in the Shannon-Wiener diversity index among the four systems. Shannon-Wiener diversity index in the I-NT system had a significant difference with the I-CT system (irrigated-conventional tillage). There were no significant differences between I-CT and I-NT in terms of species richness index while differences between I-NT and R-CT systems and between R-NT and R-CT systems were significant. Also, results showed that species richness index at the time of tillering stage was significantly higher than that of stem elongation. The interaction between two treatments did not show a significant difference. There was no significant difference between the two years, so the results of the two years were merged.

Abstract Some corrections and additions to "Leptus Latreille (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) of the world: revised classification and keys" are presented.

Abstract The genus Leptus (larvae) is revised based on type specimens and other specimens from species and locations
worldwide. A total of 220 species were identified and divided into 8 morpho-groups, and 40 subgroups of species; the
following synonymies were also made: Leptus (Leptus) eslamizadehi as a junior synonym of L. (L.) trimaculatus, L.
(L.) ilzae as a junior synonym of L. (L.) kyushuensis, L. (L.) laplandicus as a junior synonym of L. (L.) clethrionomydis,
L. (L.) alopecurus as a junior synonym of L. (L.) alvimordax, L. (L.) annikae as a junior synonym of L. (L.) cercopius,
L. (L.) welbourni as a junior synonym of L. (L.) ghiradellae, L. (L.) laviniacus as a junior synonym of L. (L.) agenori,
L. (L.) machilidis as a junior synonym of L. (L.) albertensis, L. (L.) gyas as a junior synonym of L. (L.) meloidarum,
L. (L.) coloanensis as a junior synonym of L. (L.) astrubali, and L. (L.) sidorchukae as a junior synonym of L. (L.)
maldonadoicus. In addition, tibial and tarsal chaetotactic maps are shown, leg chaetotaxy is discussed, and keys to
species groups, subgroups, and species are included. We amended and provided new morphological data for 109
species.

Abstract In their new book, Denmark and Evans discuss and illustrate the morphology of the family Phytoseiidae including details of their dorsal and ventral chaetotaxy and adenotaxy. Four subfamilies, namely Amblyseiinae, Typhlodrominae, Phytoseiinae and Macroseiinae; 143 species belonging to 40 genera are included. Diagnoses for all 143 species and illustrated keys to the subfamilies, tribes, subtribes, and genera of Phytoseiidae of the world are presented.

Abstract There is a few book on a family of mites which be comprehensive like this book. Mites of this family are associated with main orders of Insects, i.e. Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera and Isoptera which are important in the agriculture. Most members of the family are ectoparasites. This book includes detailed morphology and systematics of Otopheidomenidae as well as comments of the author. Experience is very important in systematics and the author, Dr. Vikram Prasad is published this book after his many year works on otopheidomenids. Morphology is discussed in detail including all parts of the body which I never seen before in any reference and in systematic part, diagnosis and redescription for many species and remarks or note for each species as well as a key to familes of Phytoseioidea, and to subfamilies, genera and species of Otopheidomenidae s. str. are given.

Abstract Oribatid mites are one of the dominant soil microarthropods. These mites have an important role in increasing soil fertility through organic materials decomposition. Oribatid mite communities (Acari: Oribatida) were investigated in orchards of five regions (Ahar, Kaleibar, Varzaghan, Heris and Horand) in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The oribatid mites were studied in each orchard (apple orchards with size of approximately 0.4 ha were selected) by collecting 12 samples taken from a maximum depth of 20 cm. Sampling was performed for six months in 2015. The oribatid species diversity (Shannon-Wiener index), Species richness (Rarefaction and Jackknife methods), Evenness by Shannon's index and similarity (Sorensen index) were calculated with Ecological Methodology 6.0 software for all the regions. A total of 75 species belonging to 57 genera and 38 families of oribatid mites were collected and identified. The highest number of species (54 spp.) was found in the orchards of Kaleibar, while the studied orchards of Varzaghan had the lowest number of species (21 spp.). One–way ANOVA analysis showed that the Shannon–Wiener species diversity was highest in Kaleibar (H = 3.409) and Ahar (H = 3.419). Also, Kaleibar and Ahar had the highest species richness (Kaleibar: 79.8 species, Ahar: 70.7 species). Among studied regions, Kaleibar and Ahar had the highest species richness and species diversity but Varzaghan showed the lowest values, apparently because of geographical and climate differences between these regions.

Abstract A new species belonging to the family Acaridae, Tyrophagus hamedaniensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated from specimens collected from soil and litter beneath forest trees, Hamedan province, Iran. Also, a key to Iranian species of the genus Tyrophagus is provided.

Abstract Lassenia hemsinensis Noei, Saboori & Çobanoğlu sp. nov. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Tanaupodidae) collected from Hemşin, Rize, Turkey, on Rumex sp. (Polygonaceae) (off host) is described. A key to the species of Lassenia (larva) of the world is also provided.

Abstract In this paper, a new species of the genus Laelaspis Berlese, L. angustiseta sp. nov.­­­­ is described based on morphological characters of the adult female specimens collected in association with Tapinoma erraticum (Latreille) and Tapinoma simrothi Krausse (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province, Iran. 

Abstract Lasioerythraeus saboorii Khanjani, Raisi & Izadi was described and illustrated based on larvae ectoparasitic on Aphis punicae (Passerini) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from Boshrouyeh, Ferdows city, South Khorasan Province, Iran. In this paper, additional specimens were collected on unknown species of Chloropidae (Diptera) as host from Mahvelat City, Khorasan Razavi Province and additional metric data are provided. A revised key to world larval species of Lasioerythraeus is presented. Chloropidae is reported as a new host for the genus. 

Abstract In order to increase their inclusive fitness, animals predominantly probe their changing environment for predation cues to adopt appropriate antipredator strategies and decrease the costs of defensive behavior. Intraguild predation (IGP) occurs when a predator kills and consumes individuals of another predator which is its competitor for a shared prey. IGP is prevalent among predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae which are used as biological control agents of agricultural pests worldwide. Phytoseiid mite mothers usually display antipredator behaviors to avoid or reduce IGP risk of their juveniles. When facing a novel IGP risk, experience may enable the mothers to display more efficient antipredator responses. We studied the effect of experience on reciprocal antipredator behaviors of an indigenous predatory phytoseiid mite, i.e., Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes, and an exotic one, i.e., Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot, as biological control candidates for integrated pest management strategies in Iran. First, we determined the occurrence of IGP and mutual risk of the predators within the guild; IGP occurred reciprocally and A. swirskii was the stronger IG predator. Second, in choice situations between a patch with only shared prey and a patch with shared prey plus IGP risk cues, we scrutinized patch choice, oviposition site selection and ability to counterattack by females of each species that had either experienced the IGP risk or not. The experience did not affect patch choice and oviposition behaviors of the species whereas it elicited an increase in their predation on IG predator juveniles. We suggest that the presence of IG predator juveniles and cues may not significantly modify the distribution of the IG prey species. The reinforced counterattack behavior in experienced females showed that both species were able to tune their antipredator behavior after exposure to IG predators. Consequences of the antipredator behaviors in experienced IG prey females on distribution and possibilities of the coexistence of the study species are discussed.